[Publib] Alternatives to Reference USA - Summary of Results

[Lambert, Jeff M.]

Apologies for any cross postings:

 

Several weeks ago I posted a message asking, what other libraries are
using as an alternative to Reference USA.   I want to thank everyone who
responded back with suggestions, comments, opinions and views.

 

It quickly became apparent, that librarians have a love hate
relationship with Reference USA - they love the product, but hate the
cost! I heard many responses that said that RUSA pretty much has
cornered the market, and it meets their needs the majority of the time.
The "closet" alternative to Reference USA is the Dun & Bradstreet
Selectory. While it does not seem to have as many of the "mom & pop"
businesses, they like the fact that it uses an 8 digit SIC Code which
allows drilling down even tighter for comparable businesses.  Selectory
is sold by the "slice", or size of the company.  For example, the
Library Premier slice includes all companies with $1 million or more in
sales or 20+ employees.

 

Other suggestions included Hoovers, (downloading unavailable if the
subscription is in the name of a building/library) Lexis/Nexis Academic,
and BizInfo.  

 

We will be setting up a trial so our Reference staff can "test drive"
both Selectory, and BizInfo, to see how they compare to RUSA.

 

 

Jeff Lambert

Business Services Manager

Riverside Public Library

(951) 826-5212

jmlambert at riversideca.gov <mailto:jmlambert at riversideca.gov> 

 

 

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